Today's SA Confidential lists the magazine's annual Best Of MLS. Jaime gets MVP. Not sure whether this is for SA or just the Confidential, but still a possible harbinger. Ryan is #3 Defender, behind Fraser and Conrad. Josh is #3 rookie (behind Marshall and Dempsey) Nowak is #3 coach (1-Gansler; 2-Androoolis) Jaime and Ryan made the Best 11. Petke made the Unsung 11--guess they didn't see Saturday's game, a total stinker other than his goal. Dig this--the "More Time Next Year 11" taps Perkins and... Stokes .
On the whole, good picks, but I have to say on MVP I would have gone Jaime/ Cannon/ Guevarra. Landon still makes the Quakes go, not Ching. And Dempsey ahead of Marshall for top rookie, hands down. I hate him, but Andy Herzog is more deserving of Best 11 than the over-rated Ronnie O'Brien. Ronnie disappeared after the 1st minute of the last DC game @ RFK. For those who care, here are some of Ridge Mahoney's comments on the picks (mods: if I'm infringing on copyrights, please just file the legal papers via CSC): MVP 1. JAIME MORENO: Without the classiest ball-handler in the league, D.C. would have been shoulder-to-shoulder with New England. 2. BRIAN CHING: Size and mobility add greatly to Quakes' attack. 3. JOE CANNON: A great season of brilliant saves, consistency, and nary a soft goal. DEFENDER OF THE YEAR 1. ROBIN FRASER: Crew often starts three rookies, yet plays with poise thanks to his leadership. 2. JIM CONRAD: Wizards funny man has been a serious force in the middle. 3. RYAN NELSEN: Imposing tackler, fierce competitor, respected leader only played 17 games. GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR 1. JOE CANNON: He's the reason low-scoring Rapids are in the hunt. 2. JON BUSCH: He added maturity to his amazing athleticism. 3. TONY MEOLA: Excellent season marred by Achilles' injury. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 1. CHAD MARSHALL: How else would Columbus be atop the East playing with three in the back? 2. CLINT DEMPSEY: Gives the Revs punch no matter where he lines up. 3. JOSHUA GROS: Flank flyer has tremendous promise. COACH OF THE YEAR 1. BOB GANSLER: Kansas City topped the West despite missing several stars for big chunks of the season. 2. GREG ANDRULIS: Remade the Crew -- without Brian McBride --with astounding results. 3. PETER NOWAK: Improved D.C.'s record by a few points and amid the Freddy Furor revamped a team in chaos. BEST XI G - Joe Cannon. D - Ryan Nelsen, Robin Fraser, Jim Conrad. MF - Landon Donovan, Simon Elliott, Kerry Zavagnin, Amado Guevara, Ronnie O'Brien. F - Brian Ching, Jaime Moreno. UNSUNG XI G - Henry Ring. D - Tyrone Marshall, Nick Garcia, Antonio de la Torre, Mike Petke. MF - Diego Gutierrez, Ramiro Corrales, Jack Jewsbury, Sasha Victorine. F - Davy Arnaud, John Wolyniec. FUTURE XI G - Troy Perkins. D - Chad Marshall, Ryan Cochrane, Jeff Parke. MF - Joshua Gros, Danny Szetela, Brian Carroll, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Gaven. F - Jordan Cila, Freddy Adu. MORE TIME NEXT YEAR XI G -- Troy Perkins. D - Taylor Graham, Ricky Lewis, David Stokes. MF - Craig Capano, Gilberto Flores, Andy Dorman, Alexandre Boucicaut. F - Andy Herron, Erick Scott, Matt Taylor.
I like that Carroll was included in the 'future XI'. I don't get how Stokes is included in the 'more time next year XI'